Eating disorders are complicated mental health conditions which may result in a wide range of different psychological and physical complications to one's health and well-being. As a result there are an increasing number of approaches or methods in terms of treatment currently available. While there is clearly a vital need for health professionals to work together forming a multidisciplinary team there is also a role for non-professional support as well as self-help. This article aims to explore the role of non-professionals in supporting eating disorder sufferers with key areas to be examined listed below.
- The role of parental support for children with eating disorders
- How may one's spouse support eating disorder recovery?
- How may friends support eating disorder sufferers?
The Role of Parental Support for Children with Eating Disorders
Parents play a crucial role in supporting children or young people suffering from an eating disorder. In terms of the Maudsley Approach the parents work together with a therapist and move gradually from taking control over the child's intake to returning the control back when the child is in healthy recovery. Family therapy is likely to require the whole family to become involved with treatment and parents may also receive guidance and support from a family therapist and eating disorder support groups. Clear, consistent rules and boundaries must be set and during family mealtimes parents need to remain calm and ideally use distraction methods to help reduce anxiety.
How May one's Spouse Support Eating Disorder Recovery?
In contrast to younger patients who require parental support, older sufferers will benefit from having support from their spouse. Marital therapy may be of great benefit as well as support groups specifically aimed at partners of eating disorder sufferers. Communication is key to maintaining any healthy relationship and this may be particularly difficult with anorexia where individuals may shut off from feelings and emotions. Skills or strategies that may help a spouse include the following: showing compassion, empathy, respect, avoiding blaming, judgemental comments and overgeneralising.
How May Friends Support Eating Disorder Sufferers?
As with one's spouse, communication is very important to maintaining friendships during times of illness, recovery or relapse. Friends require much patience and compassion as eating disorders are very complex, isolation conditions. Suggesting activities which don't involve food or big crowds is a good place to start. Also, if the individual is at a low weight, activity that requires little energy such as watching a movie or having a coffee and a chat is best. Sometimes all that is needed is a listening ear and other times it can greatly help to hear what is going on in another's life as it is likely to be considerably different to the eating disordered world of the patient.
Sources:
Shepphird, S. (2010) 100 Questions & Answers About Anorexia Nervosa Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett
Waller et al. (2007) CBT for Eating Disorders Cambridge University Press
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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